This letter was sent to Portage Police Chief Michael Candiano on Oct. 22:
Now that the apparently hush-hush coverup of this ugly incident involving one of our police officers has been exposed, I’m totally disgusted and I’ll bet I’m not the only one.
Why is Bryan Slatton still on in the Portage Police Department? Why is he being protected? Nepotism? Politics? Knowing the right people? If this had occurred in any reputable business, he would have been immediately terminated. There is absolutely no justification for that not being the case in this situation. Isn’t the job of the police to “serve and protect”? Does this not apply to the woman he admittedly sexually harassed? And exactly what message does this send to the dedicated women within or department? Action, or in this case inaction, speaks louder that words.
So he was “disciplined” with what was essentially a slap on the wrist. Meanwhile, how does this incident affect the trust and confidence between the citizens of Portage and the many fine officers who may have to deal with the repercussions of one bad apple? If he is on patrol and stops someone, can he be trusted not to expose himself just to prove how macho he is? If this knuckle-dragging Neanderthal is supposed to have my back, I feel neither “served” nor “protected”.
I think the Portage Police force does a fantastic job, but with Bryan Slatton still “serving and protecting,” I’m afraid his despicable actions give our wonderful city a black eye. The basic inaction on this just perpetuates the “gold old boy” stereotype. Aren’t we better than this?
Last summer, I was driving the speed limit on Samuelson Road with an oversize truck tailgating with his lights on bright, trying to get me to speed up. He then passed me on a double yellow. An officer two cars back witnessed this and immediately pulled over the man. (Every driver’s dream. Now, THIS is the police officer I want to “serve and protect” me and my city.
Roberta DeKemper is a Portage resident.
